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Your Stages of Pregnancy

Your stage of pregnancy is a time of many milestones and small feats. From two pink lines to one tiny cry, your stages of pregnancy are all significant and memorable. While it’s not always glamorous, pregnancy is a pretty magical and fascinating time!

If you are expecting or dreaming of a baby in the near future, below is a snapshot look of each trimester and the milestones that make the stages of pregnancy a work of wonder.

First trimester

Morning sickness, gagging and frequent urination! The challenges some women face during the first trimester of pregnancy. During this stage of pregnancy other extraordinary things are taking place.

During the first three months your baby will undergo the biggest growth spurt of its life going from invisible to the naked eye to more than two inches long, with the beginnings of every part and system of its body. Take pride in the hard work you are doing by growing your baby!

The first three months are the stages of your pregnancy when the groundwork for your baby will develop. The following pregnancy trimesters will provide merely maturing and growth of the development created in the first trimester.

Second trimester

The second trimester is usually the favourite stage among pregnant women. Around the fourth month most women will notice a significant decrease in nausea. While you may still feel tired, many women also report feeling a little more energised and ‘normal’ again.

This trimester also marks a milestone in your pregnancy. This is the time most women need to buy maternity wear. Now is the time to treat yourself to fabulous clothes to compliment your adorable bump. This pregnancy stage also marks when you will be able to tell the sex of the baby and feel your baby wiggle! The first kicks can make those months of nausea seem like a small price to pay.

Third trimester

Entering into the third and final trimester can be both exhilarating and tiring. While you are closer and closer to holding your baby in your arms, your energy level may once again drop. Remember to take plenty of time to rest and take good care of yourself. This is especially true if you are already a mother of older children when it can be difficult to find time to put up your feet.

You may be noticing that you are feeling the need to clean everything in sight or that you are spending lots of time decorating your little one’s space. This is called ‘nesting’ and is nature’s way of preparing for your child’s arrival. Just remember that heavy lifting is to be avoided and should be handled by your spouse or friends. Painting is also something you should leave up to others, as the fumes can be hazardous to both mum and baby. But don’t worry, you can still do the creative side of things like decorating and shopping for your new baby’s room!

Labour is probably readily on your mind right now. A baby born after the 32nd week has a great chance of thriving. So as you approach this milestone, reward yourself for nurturing your baby to this point. Knowing you’ve reached a safety net of sorts can be a great sense of relief for mothers who have had a tough go of maintaining a healthy pregnancy.

While some babies are born prematurely, the majority of women will go into labor from the 37th week onwards If your baby arrives early be reassured by the fact that modern medicine can do wonders to mimic the safe haven of the womb that will allow your child to continue to grow and thrive until they are ready to come home.

While pregnancy may seem to drag on, once you finally have your baby in your arms you’ll be wondering where the time went. Use time now wisely, and spend special time with older children. Share the experience with your family. Celebrate milestones along the way. Work on the nursery as a team. Or if this is your first child, use this time to enjoy your partner or to simply pamper yourself. Before you know it you’ll arrive at the most important milestone of all – bringing baby home.